Cat Sleeping Pills: Should You Give Them to Your Cat?

Do you have trouble getting Fluffy to sleep when it’s time for bed? Maybe you’re planning a big trip and you want to make sure that the car or airplane ride is comfortable for your furry friend? No matter what the reason, most pet parents have considered using cat sleeping pills at some point or another. Unfortunately, sleeping pills aren’t usually the best solution.

What Are Cat Sleeping Pills?

Cat sleeping pills are specially formulated just for felines. One readily available medication that can be purchased online is Acepromazine. This tranquilizer is often used on cats prior to surgery because it has sedative effects and it also prevents vomiting. However, other cat sleeping medicine is available on the market as well.

Some desperate pet parents choose to give their cat human sleeping pills in lieu of cat sleeping pills. This is never a good idea. Cat sleep cycles are very different from human sleep cycles. Not only can human sleeping pills seriously disturb your cat’s natural sleeping patterns, they can also cause many harmful medical problems as well.

Is a Cat Sleeping Pill Safe to Use on My Feline?

In most cases, specially formulated cat sleeping pills are perfectly safe to use on your feline. However, you should consider the reason why you’re considering sleeping pills before you give any to your cat.

Are you giving your cat sleeping pills to enhance the quality of your cat’s life, or are you giving your cat the pills in order to make life easier for your family? Cats are naturally most active between dusk and dawn, so you shouldn’t medicate your cat just so you can get a good night’s sleep.

If you think your cat truly has issues sleeping, because he sleeps too much or too little, or if you’re worried about your cat’s anxiety on a long trip, you should visit your veterinarian. Let him decide if your cat should be medicated and allow him to provide you with a safe prescription.

Natural Alternatives to Sleeping Pills for Cats

Fortunately, there are many safe, natural alternatives to cat sleeping pills that have no side effects. Instead of medicating your cat to make him tired in the evening, make sure you wear him out with a little playtime. Use a laser pointer, interactive toy, or a cat wand to get your cat running through the house and he’ll be more likely to rest soundly.

Switching up your cat’s feeding schedule is also a great way to avoid cat sleeping pills. Cats are naturally sleepy after a good meal, so consider feeding your feline right before bed. This will also ensure that he doesn’t bug you for food in the middle of the night!

Additional Cat Calming Products

Cat stress relief is one of the main reasons why pet parents search for cat sleeping pills. If your cat is particularly stressed out, or if you’re planning a long trip, there are many products on the market that can help calm your cat.

Before you choose to give your cat sleeping pills, be willing try to a natural or alternative method first. Because they don’t have any negative side effects, your cat’s health and happiness will thank you for it in the long run.